State & Liberty vs. Tapered Menswear: Which Athletic Fit Dress Shirt is Better?

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If you’ve been in search of athletic fitting dress shirts then you’ve probably found your way to The Guy’s List at some point as that is a big topic we cover over here. Two brands that seem to always come up when searching for clothes for athletes are State & Liberty and Tapered Menswear. But how do you know which one is right for you? That’s where I come in. I’ve tested dress shirts (and other items) from both of these brands and can help you make the right decision. In this article, we’re going to put a heavy focus specifically on the difference between each brand’s dress shirts

Brand Background and Product Range

State & Liberty

State and Liberty was started in 2015 by two former hockey players who wanted to create dress clothes that properly fit their athletic body types. From a brand level, the biggest things to note are that State and Liberty is a United States-based brand and has tons of store locations. There are over 25 store locations throughout the USA. State and Liberty also has a much wider variety of products on the site and way more styles. They also have a lot of made-to-order items and even have an entire wedding section.

Tapered Menswear

Tapered Menswear has a similar starter story in that their founder Scott was working office jobs and had trouble with traditional dress shirts as they would always get baggy around the waist as he had a v shaped body. Tapered Menswear is UK-based brand that was founded in 2017. Tapered Menswear brands itself as “More Than a Muscle Fit” claiming to be a shirt that works as hard as you do. 

Fit and Sizing

I stand about 6 foot tall and range between 180 – 185 lbs and went with a medium size for both Tapered Menswear’s White Tapered Fit shirt and State & Liberty” “The Springer” white dress shirt with navy accents. I believe  I did select the right size for myself on both shirts. Both shirts are built for an athletic v-shaped body type. They give some room up top for a strong upper body but taper down for a smaller waistline. Both of these shirts are designed to be tucked in but can be worn untucked, however it’s not totally ideal in my opinion as i think they both are slightly too long untucked. I also think the sleeve length and collars are perfect for me. I need to circle back and add my exact measurements in here to help yall out. So basically from fit and sizing they are almost the same Here are the differences in my opinion when it comes to fit and sizing:

Overall, when it comes to fit and sizing, these two brands are similar. I think the major differences are in the next few categories.

Style and Design

When it comes to style and design there are quite a few differences between the two. First off, State & Liberty has tons of different color options which I love. I’m not a math guy so I didn’t count them all but, at a glance, it looked like at least 50 different designs. Tapered Menswear, on the other hand, has less than 10 different color options and only offers solid colorways. At State & Liberty, you will find tuxedo shirts available which is unique while Tapered Menswear offers a unique Grandad collar. Another key difference is that the State and Liberty shirt comes with metal collar stays which is a very nice touch.

Looking specifically at the style and design of the two shirts I tested here are the core differences:

Comfort

This category is where I think State & Liberty really separates itself. Once you wear a dress shirt from State & Liberty it’s very hard to wear any other brand. State & Liberty uses performance fabrics that are incredibly stretchy. It feels like you’re wearing a workout shirt from Lululemon. The material is breathable and moisture-wicking so on a hot day you aren’t going to be sweating like crazy and, even if you are, it will dry fast. Tapered Menswear advertises a 4-way stretch but is still 96% cotton and doesn’t even compare to the stretch and comfort that S&L dress shirts provide. So whether you’re working at a desk or dancing on a wedding dance floor the mobility you get with S&L is far superior to Tapered Menswear which to me is a deal breaker.

Pricing and Value

Tapered Menswear wins this category from a price standpoint as they come in $15 cheaper per shirt. But when it comes to value, State & Liberty takes the cake. They deliver a more comfortable product that lasts forever, doesn’t need to be ironed at all, and comes with collar stays.

The Verdict

At the end of the day, both brands do an excellent job and are better than any standard boxy shirt you’ll find at a department store or Men’s Wearhouse. However, if I had to pick between the two I am going with State & Liberty over Tapered Menswear because primarily because it is so much more comfortable.